The Origin of Love

“We love because he first loved us…For anyone who does not love his brother…cannot love God” 1 John 4:19-20.

I am always trying to gain a better understanding of God by applying His heart to my heart as a parent.  Before our children were even conceived thought went in to their very existence.  Should we have another child?  How will the other children relate to a new family member?  Will that child be healthy?  Can we love that child as much as the others?  Well of course, these were only fleeting thoughts compared to the love that was already filling up our hearts.  Nine months passed by and the love grew before the introduction even came.  We loved them before they loved us.  Once our family was determined complete there were many days when disharmony was our companion and unity seemed distant.  I remember one thing for sure…when one of my children were being mean to another I felt some distance from that child.  I took it personally and wanted to be advocate for the underdog.  My fellowship was broken with one child when they broke fellowship with each other.

Any love that we experience is a result of the love that God gave to us first.  Apart from Him we don’t have the capacity to love in its purest form…love that isn’t easy…love that places others ahead of yourself…love that requires forgiveness, grace and mercy.  We are commanded to love all of our brothers and sisters, and not just those we choose to love.  It is our tendency to see others as the reason for a broken relationship – I’m just as guilty as the next person.  I was blessed this morning by the writing of Kelly Minter in What Love Is, page 117.  ‘John gives us really obvious markers for our love for God, or lack of it.  If we’re bitter toward someone, unforgiving, angry, constantly in a bad mood, biting people’s heads off, gossiping about others, irritated at them, we need to look at what is broken in our relationship with God, because loving God and loving others are inextricably connected.  God’s love for us goes before our love for others – loving others doesn’t help us earn God’s love, rather God’s love for us grants us the capacity to love others.  We love because He first loved us.’ 

To me this simplifies the message but not the behavior.  Bottom line is that everything we do and all that we are is based on the level of love we have for God first and others following.  Even the Bible states that all of the other commands of God hinge on these two.  ‘And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the great and foremost commandment.  The second is like it, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets’ Matthew 22:37-40.

So as we look to the New Year that is upon us many resolutions will be made and many will be broken.  If all resolutions are aligned with increasing our love for God and for others, it seems to me that everything else will follow.